torana
a mostly freestanding gate; (plural: toranas)
Free-standing ornamental foliar and floral festoon forming entrance supported by two upright columns and often interlaced vertically; (jala-torana): copies in wood and stone with greater elaboration and carving, or taking the form of makara-torana, mounted on two pillars.
It precedes the main gateways (gopura’s) of cities, places and temples. It is often erected temporarily (as is common in South India) on festive occasions on roads leading to cieties, placess and temples.
When adorning the doorway as a dvarasobha, it is called a griha dvara-torana or the face-of-a-wall (bhitti-torana), where it often frames a niche or devakoshtha or suggest an opening ghana-dvara.
When free-standing, it is designated stambha-torana.
